Saudi Arabia, UAE Mosques to Stay Closed for Eid Prayers

Mosques will remain closed for prayers on the Eid al-Fitr holiday, Saudi and United Arab Emirates officials said on Friday, calling on the population to adhere to safety guidelines to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus.

The Eid, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, may fall on Saturday or Sunday in the Gulf region.

Saudi Islamic Affairs Minister Abdullatif al-Sheikh gave instructions not to have Eid prayers in mosques, Saudi state TV quoted him as saying.

"Muslims will hold the Eid prayer at home because of the pandemic," the Saudi Press Agency cited Sheikh Abdul Bari al-Thubaiti, the imam, or the prayer leader, of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, as saying in the Friday sermon.

During Ramadan, prayers without worshippers were held by the imams in the two holy mosques of Makkah and Madinah, in the west of the kingdom.

In the UAE, the Dubai government's media office said on Twitter that mosques will remain closed, and listed a series of Eid customs that should not be observed, including family visits and giving gifts or money to children.

Newsletter

Marketing Permissions

Asharq AL-awsat will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at [email protected] We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.

Social media video grab of police clashing with demonstrators during a protest against racial inequality in the aftermath of the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Seattle. Reuters

1/4

Park Avenue is seen devoid of traffic after the 8 p.m. curfew continued in response to looting during the Black Lives Matter's protests in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 6, 2020. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

2/4

New York Police Department officers are seen on 42nd Street after the 8 p.m. curfew continued Saturday night in response to looting during the Black Lives Matter's protests in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., June 6, 2020. REUTERS

3/4

A bystander walks past an overflowing recyclable waste pile, amid ongoing protests over racial inequality in the wake of the death of George Floyd while in Minneapolis police custody, near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., June 6, 2020. REUTERS